Grout head and method for suppresssing leaks at rock faces, in mines, mining and in circumstances requiring sealing of cracks as required to suppress leaking

ABSTRACT

The apparatus is a Grout Head and the method claimed is the use of the Grout Head apparatus for the suppression of ground water leaks in rock faces, mines and mining and in other instances where leaks are encountered.

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A method and apparatus for the suppression of leaks in rock faces, inmines, in mining and in other instances.

The patents and publications referred to herein are provided herewith inan Information Disclosure Statement in accordance with 37 CFR 1.97.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The apparatus is a Grout Head and the method claimed is the use of theGrout Head apparatus for the suppression of ground water leaks in rockfaces, mines and mining and in other instances where leaks areencountered.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present inventionwill become more readily appreciated as the same become betterunderstood by reference to the following detailed description of thepreferred embodiment of the invention when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates A Grout Head (100) comprising a circular flange (110)having a top side 111, a bottom side (113), a top outer edge (112), abottom outer edge (114). The flange (110) having a flange thickness(116) and the circular flange (110) having a center (122) and a flangeaperture (117) concentrically positioned in the flange (110); the flangeaperture (117) having a flange aperture diameter (118), and the flangehaving a flange outer diameter (120) extending across the flange at thetop outer edge (112). Also seen is a flange outer welding bead (124) anda flange inner welding bead (126) having a welding bead diameter (128).Also illustrated is a pipe (130) having a pipe outer surface (132) and apipe inner surface (134); and the pipe (130) having a pipe wall (131);the pipe wall (131) having a pipe wall thickness (133); and the pipe(130) has a pipe inner diameter (136) and a pipe outer diameter (138);and the pipe outer diameter (138) is smaller than the flange innerdiameter (118) and the pipe outer diameter (138) is greater than thewelding bead diameter (128) and;

the flange (110) and the pipe (130) are composed of a rigid materialincluding metals and plastics; and the flange outer welding bead (124)and the flange inner welding bead diameter (128) comprise rigid affixingmeans, including metal and plastic welding, milling and other metal andor plastic affixing means rigidly affixing the flange (100) to the pipe(130); and the pipe (130) having a length (129) and, the pipe (130),distal to the flange bottom side (113), having pipe pressure connectionmeans (140) including threads, quick connect and other pressureconnection methods. It is understood that the circular flange (110) mayhave other shapes including oval, square, rectangle and such.

FIG. 2 is a section of the Grout Head illustrated in FIG. 1 showing thestructure of FIG. 1 and additionally showing a flange outer welding bead(124) and a flange inner welding bead (126) having a welding beaddiameter (128); and the flange outer diameter (120).

FIG. 3 illustrates the structure shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is bottom view of the Grout Head (100) illustrating the pipe(130).

FIG. 5 illustrates the Grout Head (100) combined with a rock bolt (200).

FIG. 6 illustrates the interconnection of the Grout Head (100) with aconduit for pressure delivery of cement to the Grout Head (100).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A Grout Head (100) Forming a Leak Suppression Apparatus (100) comprisinga circular flange (110) having a top side 111 and a bottom side (113)and;

the top side (111) having a top outer edge (112) and the bottom side(113) having a bottom outer edge (114) and;the flange (110) having a flange thickness (116) and;the circular flange (110) having a center (122) and a flange aperture(117) concentrically positioned in the flange (110); the flange aperture(117) having a flange aperture diameter (118), and the flange having aflange outer diameter (120) extending across the flange at from the topouter edge (112); anda flange outer welding bead (124) and a flange inner welding bead (126)having a welding bead diameter (128);a pipe (130) having a pipe outer surface (132) and a pipe inner surface(134); and the pipe (130) having a pipe wall (131); the pipe wall (131)having a pipe wall thickness (133); and the pipe (130) has a pipe innerdiameter (136) and a pipe outer diameter (138); andthe pipe outer diameter (138) is larger than the flange aperture innerdiameter (118) and the pipe outer diameter (138) is greater than thewelding bead diameter (128) and the welding bead diameter (128) isgreater than or equal to the flange aperture diameter (118) and;the flange (110) and the pipe (130) are composed of a rigid materialincluding metal and plastics; and the flange outer welding bead (124)and the flange inner welding bead diameter (128) comprise rigid affixingmeans, including metal and plastic welding, milling and other metal andor plastic affixing means rigidly affixing the flange (100) to the pipe(130); andthe pipe (130) having a length (129) and, the pipe (130), distal to theflange bottom side (113), having pipe connection means (140) includingthreads, quick connect and other pressure connection methods.

A Grout head and method for suppressing mining leaks comprises thefollowing. Using the Grout Head (100) of claim 1, an elongated hollowslotted rock bolt (200), having a penetration tip (214), a drive collar(210) and a drive end (215) and inserting the rock bolt (200,) at thepenetration tip (214), into the pipe (130) most distal to the flange(100). The drive end (215) is distal to the penetration tip (214) anddistal to the drive collar. The rock bolt (200) is known in the miningindustry. The rock bolt (200) has a diameter, between the penetrationtip (214) and the drive collar (210) less than the flange aperturediameter (118); and

the drive collar (210) is inherent to the rock bolt (200) byconstruction or by rigid affixing means including welding, milling andother affixing means; and the drive collar (210) has a diameter greaterthan the flange aperture diameter (118) and is positioned on the rockbolt (200) intermediate the penetration tip (214) and the drive end(215); andthe rock bolt (200), extends through the flange aperture (118); anddriving the rock bolt (200) into a mine rock face, or other structurerequiring leak suppression, by use of a jackleg, or larger drillingequipment such as a jumbo or rock bolter, to cause the flange (110) topside (111) to be forced against the rock face thereby creating a sealthrough surface contact with both the bolt and the formation rock faceand inserting a soft seal means, such as a gasket or O-ring, around therock bolt at the top side 111 and at the bottom side (113) and in thealternative to form a seal by welding the flange (110) at the top side(111) and or at the bottom side (113) to the rock bolt (200); anda grout conduit (150), comprised of grout conduit means including, forexample, a hose or pipe, having a first end (152) and at the first end(152) a pipe connection means (142) including threads, quick connect andother connection methods which is connected to the connection means(140); and pressure driving fluid, including cement, through the conduitand through the rock bolt slot (220) and into the proximal rock cracksthereby reducing, suppressing or eliminating leaks including mine leaks.

The conduit which the rock bolt provides, can easily be twice the volumeof existing methods where small diameter holes (<2.5″) are beingdrilled, allowing for more grout to be injected into the formationfaster and at higher viscosities and with increased solids content.

The grout head adaptor designed for this purpose is a simple device madeup of a base plate, seen here as a circular flange having a centrallypositioned flange aperture, welded to a threaded pipe nipple or couplerfor connecting to the pumping mechanism. The base plate has a hole in itcorresponding to the diameter of the rock bolt shank, but smaller thanthe rock bolt drive head so that the bolt may slide inside the pipe,rest on the baseplate creating a rough seal to the plate, then be driveninto the formation. As the bolt is driven into the formation it willsecure the grout head adaptor to the formation, creating a seal throughsurface contact with both the bolt and the formation face. A soft sealsuch as a gasket or O-ring may be placed on either side of thebaseplate. A seal may also be created by welding the rock bolt to thebase plate, either on the front or back side of the plate.

Once the adaptor is secured to the surface of the formation, a groutconduit may be attached to the pipe and the grout pumped into theformation at whatever pressure is needed.

The problem created by leaks in mines is addressed by the Grout Headinvention. The solution to this problem arose due to an inability tosource packers from the market during a work shutdown. The idea arose tosomehow deliver the grout through existing, larger diameter holes whichare drilled to place rock bolts for formation stabilization. These boltsare hollow, and it is possible to pump fluids through them, in factoften these bolts are the source of water intrusion which causes so muchtrouble for the mines.

These rock bolts typically have a resistance to movement of many tons offorce, which provides the ability to deliver high pressure grout withoutfear of packer failure. This invention is a Grout Head and a method todeliver grout into the formation through these bolts, reducing time lossand resulting in increased production, lower costs, better formationalsealing in suppressing leaks.

What is claimed:
 1. A Grout Head Forming a Leak Suppression Apparatus(100) and the Method of Use comprising a grout head having a base plateincluding a circular flange (110) having a top side 111 and a bottomside (113) and; the top side (111) having a top outer edge (112) and thebottom side (113) having a bottom outer edge (114) and; the flange (110)having a flange thickness (116) and; the circular flange (110) having acenter (122) and a flange aperture (117) concentrically positioned inthe flange (110); the flange aperture (117) having a flange aperturediameter (118), and the flange having a flange outer diameter (120); anda pipe (130) having a pipe outer surface (132) and a pipe inner surface(134); and the pipe (130) having a pipe wall (131); the pipe wall (131)having a pipe wall thickness (133); and the pipe (130) has a pipe innerdiameter (136), a pipe outer diameter (138), a pipe outer circumference(134) and a pipe inner circumference (135), a pipe first end (137) and apipe second end (139); the pipe (130) concentrically contacts the flange(110) at the flange bottom side (113); and the pipe inner diameter (136)and the pipe outer diameter (138) are larger than the flange aperturediameter (118) and are smaller than the flange outer diameter (120); theflange (110) and the pipe (130) are interconnected by permanent affixingmeans between the flange bottom side (113) and the pipe first end (137)at either or both the pipe outer circumference (134) or pipe innercircumference (135); and the flange (110) and the pipe (130) arecomposed of a rigid material including metals and plastics; and the pipe(130) having a length (129) and, the pipe (130), distal from the flangebottom side (113), having pipe connection means (140); and the flange(110) and flange aperture (117) and the pipe (130) are sized to receivea rock bolt known in the mining industry.
 2. A Grout Head depending fromclaim 1 and further comprising: the permanent interconnection affixingmeans between the flange (110) and the pipe (130) is spot or continuousmetal or plastic welding at either or both the pipe outer circumference(134) or the pipe inner circumference (135) comprising a flange outerwelding bead (124) and or a flange inner welding bead (126); the weldingat the pipe inner circumference (134) does not extend into the flangeaperture (117); the flange (110) and the pipe (130) are composed of arigid material including metals and plastics; and the flange outerwelding bead (124) and the flange inner welding bead (126) compriserigid affixing means, including metal and plastic welding, milling andother metal and or plastic affixing means rigidly affixing the flange(100) to the pipe (130); and the pipe (130) having a length (129) and,the pipe (130), distal from the flange bottom side (113), having pipeconnection means (140) including threads, quick connect disconnect,clamps and other common connection methods for connection of the pipe(130) with a hose or pipe for delivery of a fluid.
 3. A Method ForSuppressing Leaks Using the Apparatus of claim 1 and further comprising:an elongated hollow slotted or perforated rock bolt (200) having apenetration tip (214) and a drive collar (210) is inserted into the pipe(130) most distal to the flange (100) and; the rock bolt (200) has adiameter, between the penetration tip (214) and the drive collar (210)less than the flange aperture diameter (118); and the drive collar (210)is integral to or is rigidly affixed to the rock bolt (200) by rigidaffixing means including welding, milling and other affixing means; andthe drive collar (210) has a diameter greater than the flange aperturediameter (118); and the rock bolt (200) is driven into a mine rock orsoft face by use of a jackleg, or larger drilling equipment such as ajumbo or rock bolter asserting driving force against the rock bolt (200)at a drive end (215) which is distal from the drive collar (210) and thedrive collar (210) being distal from the penetrating tip (214) where thedrive collar (210) asserts driving force against the flange bottom side(113) and: said driving force urging the flange (110) top side (111) tobe forced against the rock or soft face thereby creating a seal throughsurface contact with both the rock bolt (200) and the formation rock orsoft face and inserting a soft seal means, including a gasket or O-ringor other soft seal device, around the rock bolt at the top side (111)and or at the bottom side (113) and in the alternative to form a seal bywelding the flange (110) at the top side (111) and or at the bottom side(113) to the rock bolt (200); and